Stock Fender bridge VS upgrade bridge??

[walterw]

I've searched and searched here, with many hits on which bridge to get but no answers to the why. It's quite possible I've been looking in the wrong area, but I decided to just post the question and get the info.

the key words to search for are "high mass" vs. "low mass". you'll get a ton of stuff, as it's apparently a long-raging debate.

i like low-mass done right, which to me means something like a vintage fender threaded rod bridge or the first generation american standard bridge; the multi-grooved saddles allowed for correct string spacing, the saddles themselves were real steel for clarity and sustain, and the design allowed for the outer strings to "squeeze" the saddles in towards the center, causing the 4 saddles to be held against each other by the string tension, eliminating drift and rattle.

later fender bridges (and current mexi bridges) with the single groove in the center of each saddle fail on all counts, as the saddles are not steel, they will not space the strings right for jazz bass pickups, and they do not touch each other, allowing them to slide around, rattle and sink

 

[bluesavageraff]

I played Fenders exclusively for years. Then I got a Musicman. I hated the neck and the tone (I love things passive), but I loved the way the strings felt when I plucked them.

Tonally I'm not sure the bridge made a difference. Sustain? Maybe? For me its all about feel.

Now that I've gone back to Fender everything feels cheap. I think Ernie Ball uses high mass bridges. They seem like Fender bridges, but just better made.

Does anybody know a good Fender replacement comparable to a Musicman?

 

[WildTrkey]

the key words to search for are "high mass" vs. "low mass". you'll get a ton of stuff, as it's apparently a long-raging debate.

i like low-mass done right, which to me means something like a vintage fender threaded rod bridge or the first generation american standard bridge; the multi-grooved saddles allowed for correct string spacing, the saddles themselves were real steel for clarity and sustain, and the design allowed for the outer strings to "squeeze" the saddles in towards the center, causing the 4 saddles to be held against each other by the string tension, eliminating drift and rattle.

later fender bridges (and current mexi bridges) with the single groove in the center of each saddle fail on all counts, as the saddles are not steel, they will not space the strings right for jazz bass pickups, and they do not touch each other, allowing them to slide around, rattle and sink

Sounds like you answered your own question. I prefer low mass "done right" as well. High mass is a tone suck, IMO. You might, MIGHT, gain sustain by using high mass but you certainly lose resonance. Those old P basses sound good for a reason.

 

[walterw]

Sounds like you answered your own question. I prefer low mass "done right" as well. High mass is a tone suck, IMO. You might, MIGHT, gain sustain by using high mass but you certainly lose resonance. Those old P basses sound good for a reason.

hey, it was carl h's question, not mine!

i wouldn't call a good high-mass bridge a "tone suck", though. it might reduce the "character" that the body wood provides, but as a trade-off for more sustain and evenness, it's a legitimate choice.

also, the fact that the debate rages so intensely around here suggests that the difference is usually subtle anyway.

oh, and those old P basses sound good for lots of reasons.

 

[joeydavidson]

I put a high mass bridge on my mexi jazz yesterday, took it off after half an hour of playing, the tone was missing something. Luckily I got the bridge cheap so I won't lose much money on it. I have a new appreciation for the stock fender bridge now.

 

[BarkSlayer]

I just stumbled across this thread and it appears my timing was flawless. After reading up here, I figure you guys saved me $100 on a new BAII. So in lieu of the new bridge, I'll be spending that $100 on an excellent beer party at my place tonight, and you're all invited!

 

[BarkSlayer]

Holy schnikes! Hope there's some left by the time you get here, Joey!

 

[wildhorse]

Maybe I'm just too old to care?

I resemble that remark.

 

[jero182]

the key words to search for are "high mass" vs. "low mass". you'll get a ton of stuff, as it's apparently a long-raging debate.

i like low-mass done right, which to me means something like a vintage fender threaded rod bridge or the first generation american standard bridge; the multi-grooved saddles allowed for correct string spacing, the saddles themselves were real steel for clarity and sustain, and the design allowed for the outer strings to "squeeze" the saddles in towards the center, causing the 4 saddles to be held against each other by the string tension, eliminating drift and rattle.

later fender bridges (and current mexi bridges) with the single groove in the center of each saddle fail on all counts, as the saddles are not steel, they will not space the strings right for jazz bass pickups, and they do not touch each other, allowing them to slide around, rattle and sink

I'm currently contemplating on some desicions I'm going to make in the near future, and the bridge on my 2005 Jazz is one of them. I love the feel of the neck, it's straight, robust and soooo comfrotable, I love almost everything about the bass when it comes to playability. I will change the pickups tho, add the hipshot extender and such things. But I did notice, that the strings do not line up with the poles on the pickups. So this is like "usual" on newer fender bridges? Any way to fix it? Is this a huge "tone" problem? I'll post some pictures of what I mean, and how bad it is when I come home(i'm working right now, talk to me about tough job, eh? ). I'll try to find some answers on the boards, too.

edit: Ok, I don't like double posting so her it goes. It looks that string pole alignment doesn't have to be perfect, this is also one of the reasons for two poles, to leave some wiggle room. It's also fixable with changing the nut, adjusting or changing the bridge and adjusting the spacing. Oh and you cant also realign the neck a bit. I found the answers here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165231